Funding for bike projects approved by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

At their meeting on Tuesday the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved approximately $40 million in funding for bike projects over six years as part of a major 6-year transportation funding package. The bike funding is approximately $7 million/year. This is a significant increase in funding from previous years although only a small portion (3%) of the nearly $1.3 billion in total transportation funding. There was also significant funding for bike projects that will be included in many of the road projects that were part of the package. Most of the Bicycle/Pedestrian projects are sidewalks that could be used by some cyclists.

There is also around $50 million for: ped/bike improvements to the Reston and Herndon Silver Line stations ($43 million); and Additional Countywide ped/bike projects ($7 million).

Several projects that were on the original list were not funded, including several of the big ticket items such as the two bridges across the Beltway/I-495 ($18 million), proposed bike lanes on Old Dominon Dr ($10 million), and proposed bike facilities on Great Falls Street (bike lanes/shoulders/sharrows/climbing lanes, $10 million).

Overall there are almost no on-road bike facilities such as bike lanes, cycle tracks, bike shoulders, or wide curb lanes. Some would question whether the projects that received the majority of the funding were the highest priority bike projects in the county. We have a large county with significant needs for bike facilities, and this funding, while significant, is really only a drop in the bucket compared to our needs.

The Board also approved the following:

$114 million for Pedestrian Projects

$195 million for Interchanges

$115 million for Road Extensions

$66 million for Spot Improvements

$381 million for Roadway Widenings

$327 million for Transit Capital/Operating, most of which went into the Transit Reserve ($200 million) and it included $9.5 million for Columbia Pike Transit Service

Re-striping from Liberty Bell Ct to Rolling Road VRE P&R lot. Existing lanes and on-street parking can remain, but widths may be adjusted. Includes bicycle signage and access improvements near Liberty Bell Ct to improve safety and sight distance.

109

Cinderbed Road Bikeway

Lee

$4.00

$4.00

Provide approximately three miles of bikeway, extending from Fairfax County Parkway near Telegraph Road to the south side of the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station. The southern segment could include an on-road facility on Cinderbed Road.

117

Fairfax County Parkway Bicycle Wayfinding Signage

Braddock

$0.08

$0.08

Install bicycle way finding signs along the Fairfax County Parkway and Franconia-Springfield Parkway.

123

Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station/VRE Enhanced Bicycle Parking

Lee

$0.13

$0.13

Install covered bicycle parking to accommodate at least thirty bicycles. Improvements to the access driveway pavement and lighting and security may also be provided.

Franconia-Springfield Parkway Trail Connections

Lee

$0.23

$0.23

Extend shared use path from Spring Village Dr. to Ridgeway Dr. across Metrorail station.

129

Government Center Area Bicycle Demonstration Project

Braddock

$0.18

$0.18

Road diet on roadways to make the area more bicycle friendly. Government Center Pkwy from Random Hills Rd to Fairfax City. Post Forest Dr (West Ox Rd to Gov't Center Pkwy), Legato Rd (Post Forest Dr to US 29), and Ridge Top Rd (Random Hills Rd to US 29).

190

Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study (HMSAMS)

Dranesville

$25.00

$21.55

These projects include construction of intersection pedestrian improvements, new sidewalks, new trails and new on-road bicycle facilities within a one-mine radius of the Herndon and Innovation Center Metrorail Station.

Holmes Run Stream Valley Trail

Mason

$1.50

$1.50

Upgrade pavement to better serve commuter bicyclists.

133

Hunter Village Drive Bicycle Parking

Springfield

$0.08

$0.08

This project will complement the new on-road bike lanes by installing covered bicycle parking on the north end of Hunter Village Drive in the vicinity of Old Keene Mill Road.

138

INOVA Center Medical Education Campus

Lee

$0.21

$0.21

Enhance bicycle and pedestrian access from the medical education campus located off Metropolitan Center Drive in Springfield to the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station and nearby activity centers.

Project will complete missing segments of the Trail from southeast of Route 1 (Richmond Hwy) in the vicinity of the Washington's Mill Historic State Park to Grist Mill Park (southeast of Old Mill Rd). Includes bridge over Dogue Creek.

158

Old Keene Mill Road Bike Shoulders

Springfield

$9.10

$9.10

This project includes the installation of bicycle shoulders on Old Keene Mill Road from Lee Chapel Road to Spring Road, providing connectivity for the south-central area of the County. Supplemental signage will be installed.

189

Reston Metrorail Access Group (RMAG) Study Recommendations (Phase II)

Hunter Mill

$25.00

$21.55

These projects include construction of intersection pedestrian improvements, new sidewalks, new trails and new on-road bicycle facilities within a one-mine radius of the Reston Town Center Metrorail Station.

Existing trail extenuating from Oakwood Rd (ramp underpass) to the Alexandria City Line will be improved to current geometric standards, including those segments under the Capital Beltway (I-95) and the railroad. Lighting and way finding signage included.

183

Vienna Metrorail Station Area Bicycle Connectivity Improvements

Providence

$1.00

$1.00

Enhance bike access to the Vienna Metrorail and Metro West Town Center; Vaden Dr Bridge, Five Oaks Rd from Vaden Dr to Blake Ln, and Virginia Centre Blvd through lane and road dieting. Includes bike wayfinding signage and shared lane markings.

Why is FFX county spending so much money on those horrible cement sound barriers along the highway. In most cases, people bought their houses knowing the hwys were there. Does someone in charge own a cement company?